Jim Ratcliffe has been blasted for trying to scrap worker's tea breaks whilst living 'a life of luxury'

Bosses want to scrap daily 10am tea breaks for contracted staff who are part of the 1,200-strong workforce - because they believe the sit-down leads to “high levels of unproductive time” as they claim it can take half an hour for workers to take their break before getting back to work.

But staff say there’s “no way” they’ll be giving up their cuppa without a fight.

One worker said: “Ratcliffe enjoys a life of luxury. We hear he spends a lot of time on his yacht in the south of France.

“Yet he’s trying to deny his workers a simple tea break. I’m sure he gets 10 minutes for a cup of tea in the morning.

“Workers across the generations have enjoyed their tea break. It’s a great Scottish tradition.

“There’s no way we should be giving it up easily."

Ratcliffe, of Manchester, is worth over £1billion and owns two super yachts. His latest purchase, the Hampshire II, is worth $100million and boasts a beach club and helicopter deck as well as room for 14 guests and 23 crew.

Another worker told the Daily Record: “We get to work early and do hard, physical work in all conditions.
“By 10am, we’re often in dire need of a break. Some guys use the time for a cup of tea. Others have a bite to eat.

“With winter coming, it will be a time when we can simply heat up after working in the freezing cold.

“People are also worried about the wider impact if this goes ahead.

“Grangemouth is the biggest industrial plant in Scotland. If we lose our tea break, you can bet that other firms will soon follow suit.”

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The rumoured plans were revealed in an internal memo allegedly seen by the Daily Record. A three-month pilot scheme aims to “reschedule” the breaks to the end of the shift, giving workers an extra half hour’s pay per day as compensation.

It also promises a ballot of workers over the changes and says they won’t be made permanent without the agreement of the unions.

The memo allegedly says: “The main objective of this pilot is to reduce the high levels of non-productive time associated with logistical issues around the scheduling of the mid-morning refreshment break.”

The document also claims that the change is good for workers, adding that it will: “provide an attractive incentive for the workforce in recognition of their contribution to the operation of the restructured working week”.

But employees say they’d rather keep their tea break than be paid extra.

One said: “We’ve got a message for Jim Ratcliffe – you’ll never take our tea break.

“If this goes through, it won’t be long before every building site and factory across Scotland loses it.

“There have been rumours of Chinese investment in the plant, and we’re told the Chinese don’t understand why we need a tea break.

“But they’re not the ones knocking their pans in every morning doing hard physical work.

“For us, this is not some luxury, it’s a necessity.”

Staff are being backed by local MSP Neil Findlay and the Jimmy Reid Foundation, set up in the memory of the legendary union activist.

Labour politician Mr Findlay said: “Relationships between workers and their employers are at their best when employers look after their staff and the staff give back in return.

“A bit-by-bit erosion of conditions, such as the removal of morning breaks, is not the way to build such a relationship.”

Bob Thompson of the Jimmy Reid Foundation added: “Workers in the UK have the fewest rights of any workers in western Europe.

“Our view is that workers’ rights are human rights. We need to see more than just kind words from the likes of Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May when it comes to protecting and extending them.”

INEOS rubbished the claims, as a spokesperson told the Sun: “The story in the Daily Record is inaccurate.

"For the record there have been no changes proposed to T&C's for INEOS employees in regard to the matter.

"However, our independent contractors have proposed a change to the timing of a 10-minute mid shift break. A pilot scheme would include a move of the 10-minute break and 30 minutes’ additional pay for the inconvenience.

"Our contractor partners have consulted with their employees and with the Unions under the National Agreement. People are being asked about their views about the proposal and a final decision will be made in conjunction with the unions at the end of the proposed pilot scheme.”

Boss Ratcliffe came under fire in 2013 for closing the Ineos plant unless staff accepted major pension cuts. Families were forced to give in to keep their jobs and the plant reopened, despite being criticised for his scare tactics.

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